In 1982, at the age of five, he showed remarkable improvement (16 pounds on Timeform ratings) and won the Aston Park Stakes before recording his biggest win in the Coronation Cup.
[5] bay horse with a small white star bred in the United Kingdom by Dayspring Co. Ltd. for his owner Lady Beaverbrook.
He was from the first crop of foals sired by Bustino an outstanding middle-distance who won the St Leger and the Coronation Cup as well as finishing second to Grundy in a famous race for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Easter Sun's dam Magical won two minor races from seven starts[7] and was a distant, female-line descendant of the influential British broodmare Melody.
[9] Easter Sun ran three times in maiden races as a two-year-old in 1979 and although he failed to win he showed some promise when finishing third to Bireme over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse in October.
He failed to win in his remaining five races but was placed on three occasions including a narrow defeat in the Daniel Prenn Handicap when he was beaten a head by World Leader.
[11] Easter Sun then contested Britain's most prestigious weight-for-age race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.
In the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury in August he proved no match for the dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Ardross and was narrowly beaten for second place by Baffin.
He showed better form when campaigned internationally finishing second to Diamond Shoal in the Gran Premio di Milano and third to Prima Voce in the Grand Prix Prince Rose.